New Zealander Steve Hansen tonight began work as Wales' Six Nations caretaker coach and declared: "I would be happy to do the job full-time."

New Zealander Steve Hansen tonight began work as Wales' Six Nations caretaker coach and declared: "I would be happy to do the job full-time."

The 42-year-old former police officer succeeds his fellow Kiwi Graham Henry, albeit initially for just four games - Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship appointments with France on Saturday week, followed by Italy, England and Scotland.

Hansen arrived in Wales only last month, taking up a post as Henry's coaching right-hand man.

But with Henry no longer at the helm he has been asked to pick Wales up from last weekend's humiliating 54-10 defeat against Ireland in Dublin and rescue a Six Nations campaign possibly destined for the dustbin.

Hansen certainly has the right pedigree, having coached Canterbury Crusaders when they won successive Super 12 titles in 1999 and 2000 and also supervised the 2000 New Zealand A tour of Europe.

He is still an unknown quantity in Wales, though, where he will now head up a coaching team which includes defence strategist Clive Griffiths and newly-appointed skills man Scott Johnson, a 39-year-old Australian.

Hansen's first task will be to select his team for the French game, which he then intends announcing on Monday.

The Welsh Rugby Union's powerful general committee will review the coaching situation in April. While strong candidates like Welshmen Gareth Jenkins, Mike Ruddock and Phil Davies seem certain to be considered, Hansen might have already established a head start.

"I would be happy to do the job full time - I couldn't think of anything better to do - but that is out of my hands," he said.

"It is not something that I came here looking for. But it is a case of moving on now and getting down to work.

"There are always expectations of any coach - and it be will be a question of keeping my self-belief, discipline and desire. The bottom line is that I've got to do what I think is right, trust my own instincts and have faith in the other blokes in the coaching group.

"I am reasonably confident that the people we've got in the squad are the best players available, although I know that I have got to increase my knowledge base in terms of playing resources.

"There is no reason why we cannot improve, and everyone has a responsibility to pull on the same piece of string in the same direction.

"The players know that it was a very average performance against Ireland - they know they can perform better than that - and we've now got to look at what we can do to get better."

Hansen also paid tribute to Henry who has moved through the exit door after a 34-game reign as Wales supremo which realised 20 victories, one draw and 13 defeats.

"Graham is a great coach, whose record has not been bettered by too many people in the sport. He has done a superb job with Wales," Hansen added.

"The team has been quite upset that he's stepped down - they treat him as a mate. But now, as a team, we must move on. I am looking forward to the challenge."

After the Six Nations ends in April Wales face a two-Test tour of South Africa, by which time Hansen or another suitable candidate should be installed as full-time coach.

"We will review the position over the next few months to see what we do in the long term," said Welsh Rugby Union chairman Glanmor Griffiths.

At the moment Hansen's thoughts - and those of every Welsh rugby fan - are concentrated on France, a sentiment echoed by Wales team manager Alan Phillips.

"Steve is someone who has got the respect of the players," he said.

"The biggest thing now is unity - the team must go out against France and perform."